Financial Management Report

Page 1 Kaplan Business School Assessment Outline

Assessment 2 Information

Subject Code: MBA403

Subject Name: Financial and economic interpretation and communication

Assessment Title: Financial management essay and video presentation

Assessment Type: Written essay and recorded verbal presentation

Word Count: 2000 Words (+/-10%)

Video Length 5 minutes

Weighting: 35 %

Total Marks: 35

Submission: Turnitin and video submissions

Due Date: Week 9

Your Task

Students will select an ASX listed company and prepare a 2000-word essay regarding its financial (and non-financial) management.

Students will present the essay in a 5-minute video.

Assessment Description

• Students will write a financial management report and record a video presentation on a selected company, based on concepts learned in Weeks 1-8.

• Students will provide a clear recommendation to the stakeholders of the selected company.

• Students will interpret financial and non-financial metrics and analyse ethics issues related to the selected company.

• The assessment addresses Learning Outcomes 1 to 3.

Assessment Instructions

• Students will select an ASX listed company that has currently published financial statements which meet accepted standards of financial reporting.

• The essay is limited to 2000 words (+- 200 words), excluding the title page, bibliography and appendices.

• The essay is to be formally written with sections for an executive summary, analysis, interpretation, conclusion, bibliography and appendix. See Resource A below.

• The report is to be submitted via Turnitin

• The video is submitted via a separate dedicated link. The MyKBS assessment page provides a Guide and FAQs in relation to video assignments.

Page 2 Kaplan Business School Assessment Outline

Resource A – Financial Analysis Report content

Executive summary

The executive summary should be approximately 10% of total word count. It provides background to the company, the stakeholder the report is aimed at, the purpose of the report and a brief statement of the recommendation(s).

Analysis

The analysis will present and concisely discuss the key financial results and performance (including non-financial) indicators extracted from the company’s annual report, including significant changes in the financial results.

Consider using an appendix for detailed data tables or calculations.

Interpretation

Discuss the company’s business activities and the financial implications of the activities.

Interpret the causes of the changes in the company’s financial performance.

Apply your financial ratios and non-financial indicators to explain issues in the company’s financial results.

Consider any risks, weaknesses or strengths that should be highlighted.

This section may also cover the business strategy, competitors and the outlook.

The analysis and interpretation sections combined should comprise approximately 70% of total word count.

Conclusion

The conclusion should be approximately 20% of total word count. State a clear recommendation that addresses the decision-making needs of a stakeholder. For example, recommend a decision to invest or not invest in the company (if the Report is written for a potential shareholder). Alternatively, make a specific recommendation to improve the financial performance of the company (if the Report is written for an internal manager).

Justify recommendations by explaining how they will meet the needs of the stakeholder.

Bibliography and In-text Citations

The Academic Integrity and Conduct Policy requires the appropriate use of in-text citations and a bibliography. You must cite all references (information sources) and comply with the expectations for academic writing.

The bibliography and citations are excluded from total word count.

Page 3 Kaplan Business School Assessment Outline

IMPORTANT STUDY INFORMATION

Academic Integrity Policy KBS values academic integrity. All students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Academic Integrity and Conduct Policy. What is academic integrity and misconduct? What are the penalties for academic misconduct? What are the late penalties? How can I appeal my grade? Click here for answers to these questions: http://www.kbs.edu.au/current-students/student-policies/.

Word Limits for Written Assessments Submissions that exceed the word limit by more than 10% will cease to be marked from the point at which that limit is exceeded.

Study Assistance Students may seek study assistance from their local Academic Learning Advisor or refer to the resources on the MyKBS Academic Success Centre page. Click here for this information.

Page 4 Kaplan Business School Assessment Outline

Marking Rubric

High Distinction

Distinction High Credit Low Credit Pass

Quality of writing the Financial Management Report

Organizes and synthesizes financial and non-financial measures to reveal insightful trends or developments related to company performance.

Organizes financial and non- financial measures to reveal important trends or developments related to company performance.

Discusses financial and non- financial measures, but is not effective in revealing trends or developments related to company performance.

Lists financial and non-financial measures, but it is not organized and / or is unrelated to company performance.

Quality of analysis and interpretation in Financial Management Report

Information is taken from multiple and credible sources.

Information is interpreted to develop a comprehensive analysis to support actionable recommendations.

Viewpoints of experts are considered and questioned.

Information is taken from multiple sources without clear regard for credibility.

Information is interpreted to develop a coherent analysis to support actionable recommendations.

Viewpoints of experts are considered.

Information is taken from several sources.

Information is discussed with little interpretation. Recommendations are not supported and/or actionable.

Viewpoints of experts have noted been considered.

Information is taken from a few sources and presented without any interpretation/ evaluation.

Quality of video presentation

Video recording uses an appropriate format, financial management language, depth of discussion and graphics in ways that creatively explain why stakeholders should implement the recommendation(s).

Video recording uses an appropriate format, financial management language, depth of discussion and graphics to convey the analysis of financial and non- financial performance.

Video recording uses an appropriate format, language, depth of discussion and graphics to convey key points from the report.

Video recording uses an appropriate format to discuss the contents of the report.